Great news! My publishers have given me permission to share several recipes, photos and tips from my soon-to-be-released book! The Hands-on Home is now so close to launch that it’s time to start promotion – which means giving you guys a little taste of what’s inside the book. These herby, peanuty pork meatballs are one of my…
Recent Posts
Serendipity Days
Living life is a bit like climbing a giant mature oak tree. We start at the base of the tree, and the entire canopy is spread out above us. Every path is open. As we climb higher, some options shut behind us. Take the left branch and you cannot take the right branch. Oh sure, sometimes you…
{Giveaway} reCAP Mason Jar Accesories Variety Pack
Once upon a time, long, long ago, a new-ish blogger with more mason jars than readers heard about an amazing thing called a Kickstarter. A Kickstarter, the blogger learned, was a way for individual people to directly support entrepreneurs with really awesome ideas. The very first Kickstarter the blogger ever heard about was for a brand…
Dark Cherry Chutney Canning Recipe
When the Washington State Fruit Commission asked if I would be a 2015 Canbassador for preserving local, sweet, amazing Washington-grown fruit I lept at the opportunity. You see, as a local Washingtonian, I already believe the fruit being grown by our orchardists throughout the state is the best in the country. This isn’t just hometown pride talking. Washington is…
DIY Sunburn Soothing Comfrey Cubes
When I was nine, my parents took my younger sister and me to Disneyland. It was the kind of vacation every little girl dreams of – Main Street Parade, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, pictures with Minnie Mouse, and a teeth-rotting amount of cotton candy. I know, because there is visual proof of all these activities, carefully…
Easy DIY Tonic Water For The Best Gin and Tonic
There’s only one cocktail I make deliberately light on the booze, and that’s the Gin and Tonic. Is there a more perfect summertime drink? Refreshing, charmingly straightforward and with the added bonus of warding off both malaria and scurvy – the G&T is a classic for a reason. A Gin and Tonic has four ingredients: gin,…
A Year Under The Sun: Solar Review
We just passed the one year anniversary of our solar power system going live. How do things look after a full year? Pretty good. First some numbers, then let’s talk about how we got there. When A&R Solar installed our system, they estimated it would produce 5,200 kWh of electricity per year. Based on past usage, that…
Ten Simple Steps To Prepare For Canning Season
I don’t know about you, but I am feeling a little behind in my canning planning. If you are too, worry not! If we follow these ten simple steps, we’ll both step into preservation season calm and prepared to tackle those bushels of tomatoes and pickles and corn. I was just chatting with my friend and mentor Margaret…
What I Believe
I believe at the end of the day you need family, fresh vegetables, a long walk and something you’re working towards to be satisfied. I believe we are in control of far, far more than we typically act on, and far, far less than we typically worry about. I believe that rats in a cage…
The Garden In May – Photo Tour
Time for a photo tour! It’s always fun to see what other people are growing, so here’s a tour of my garden. Just click your way through. Do you have photos of your garden somewhere on the interwoobles? Post a link in the comments and let’s all be nosy virtual neighbors.
Top 20 Tips Every Gardener Should Know
I’ve handed out a lot of gardening advice in the 4+ years I’ve been writing here, but some tips are just so timeless I find myself coming back to them over and over. Here are 20 tips I think every gardener should know.
The Life Changing Magic of Folding Socks
On of the great joys of my recent Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up experience was learning how to fold socks. Yes, I know what you are thinking: “What a sad life that chick must have if folding socks bring her joy.” But just wait! When you see how I fold my socks now, you might become a happy-sock-folding…